The depth of the chicanery involved in the executive power grab reported exclusively in last week’s Nest has become alarmingly apparent following an independent forensic examination of the proposed Delegation of Powers to the CEO. Was this a botched attempt by the Crisafulli government to install a Clayton’s administrator – in the form of the CEO – able to by-pass council? The ‘Pie presents the evidence, you make your own verdict.
The state government puts a prime development site just metres from the Belgian Gardens waterfront up for sale. But are there strings attached to the sale, and if not, should there be? One concerned party asks a couple of good questions.
Townsville MP Adam Baillie confirms that the Radical Bay Bay on Maggie is definitely going to re-open. He has up-dated the situation to The Magpie.
The Bulletin’s already skew-whiff priorities went way of centre this week … and more than once. And there was a literal demonstration of the paper’s informal motto of ‘Yesterday’s New Tomorrow’ .
Katter’s Castle Law: would it work if we built a legal moat around that castle? Probably not, anyway The Magpie has a much better idea, a win-win all round.
And a funny/sad musical farewell to Townsville from a wildly inventive media bloke departing the city. A bittersweet bit of cleverness – but you’ll laugh in recognition of it’s truth.
It is again with the usual embarrassment – not kidding – that The Magpie seeks some support in meeting the costs of the weekly Nest. The embarrassment is mentioned because perhaps some think that any donation would really go towards The ‘Pie’s penchant for racing speedboats, flying helicopters, popping down to Sydney for the opera or buying half a dozen eggs from Coles. Alas no, The Nest’s costs demand all and any assistance it is offered by you generous souls. If you like what you read – and who but disappointed lawyer would read it if they didn’t like it – you can help it chugging along by bashing the appropriate link at the bottom of the blog. Your generosity will be gratefully received by a red faced old bird.
This Is Deeply Serious Stuff Confronting Our Councillors – They MUST Do Their Jobs
One person. with the power to sell off council assets, or buy them, without reference to the elected council? One person with the power to decided the merits of development applications? That’s just two examples of the incredible ask hat has been put to councillors.
Is the following an attempt by Brisbane and the goof of an LG minister to install Joe McCabe as a de facto administrator, thus by-passing a whole range of difficult decisions?
As reported here exclusively last week, Clr Andrew Robinson opened a Pandora’s Box when he challenged a new list of powers that could be delegated to the CEO, bypassing any councillor involvement. Clr Robinson convinced his fellow councillors that this delegation document – presented as a bland run-of-the-mill matter by TCC legal executive David Sewell – should be further examined in councillor/executive meetings before being accepted. It was beyond disgraceful, it was beyond just cynical, behaviour by Sewell in not making a single reference to anything that might stir the minds of the seemingly somnolent councillors. His failure in his ethical duty to alert them to matters that stripped powers away from them … and therefore the public … reeked of that much maligned word, conspiracy. And boy, was he miffed when two councillors … Robinson and Batkovic … showed they were not only awake, but wide awake to him.
What Clr Robinson revealed was just the tip of a very sinister iceberg, the design of which CANNOT have been an accident.
It was clear that Sewell and his co-designers of this delegation list counted on scaring off any close examination by presenting councillors with a jargon-dense 547 page closely-worded document. He clearly expected it to be waved through and was visibly exasperated when Robbo ambushed him with some alertly spotted detail.
Why the Bulletin hasn’t made the merest mention of all this is a matter for the editor – but what the paper should have done as a matter of journalistic course, has instead been done by a Magpie contact with experience in such matters. Here is part of that overview sent in to The Nest.
I’ve read through the 547 page Delegation to CEO document for you. There are 119 pieces of legislation referenced with 3,952 delegations. If Robbo agrees with 98% of it then his 2% dissent amounts to about 80 clangers. eg page 212“Power to register an instrument of transfer for the transfer of a lot to or from Council”. This sounds a lot like selling off public land without a Council resolution.
But the most exciting bit is this, Annexure A on page 316.
People almost never read an appendix, do they? Read through it carefully. It’s about the process Council intends to follow in addressing development applications.
But is Sewell telling Council to do something unethical and even illegal? The CEO only has power over employed staff. He cannot direct or obstruct an elected member. The Walker St bots intend to decide themselves which DAs might be of public interest and should go to full Council. All else they will wave through or away. Every two weeks they will hold closed door meetings with Councillors. When they’re issued with the list each fortnight, Councillors have just two days to respond. Any single councillor who disagrees with the list will not be able to make a representation to Council on behalf of constituents, because the CEO will only hear representations if two or more Councillors disagree with the planning department’s assessment. Then the CEO will hear their cases and decide the outcome. It’s also the perfect vehicle for disengaged/corrupt councillors: “Sorry, there’s nothing I can do for you, I can’t find a Councillor with any interest in supporting me in a representation.”
Why would Joe McCabe allow himself to be sullied by association with this scandalous undermining of the democratic process?
As The Magpie has said, that is just a taster of some of things that councillors need to consider, and in so doing, seriously evaluate their elected roles. This list of delegated powers is on hold until it has been ‘workshopped’ by councillors and staff, and we will be watching and listening to what debate we are allowed to hear when this comes before council again. Let’s hope our busted-arse paper manages to do the same.
Another Public Asset Under Scrutiny
Along with the old railway station, there’s another state government’ site up for private sale.
It is this (possibly) million dollar+ block of rough unused parkland on the corner of Primrose and in Belgian Gardens, less than a hundred metres from the water. Suddenly, it’s up for sale, and The Magpie was alerted to the fact by this email from a concerned Nest reader.
| The Magpie |
Submitted on 2025/07/12 at 11:52 am
The Bulletin literally lives up to its motto Yesterday’s News Tomorrow
The car was found on Thursday, a fact noted by all other Australian and overseas media yesterday (Friday). And the missing woman was found late yesterday afternoon, as noted on page five of TODAY’s Weekend Australian.
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But even when a matter of major community interest is staring them in the face, this paper decides to down-play it, and instead manufacture a totally beat up story, featuring – would you believe it – a sick kid. Last Monday, tucked away on the bottom of page 5, was this.
One hundred fucking dollars? That’s almost a final nail in the CBD coffin.
Now, by any measure, an unannounced hike in parking fines of 50% is to front page material to anybody with half a notion of what local punters find important. And The ‘Pie is unsure when parking fines became an ‘industry’ and this smug TCC spokesdill decided the local slug should be brought into line with ‘industry standards’ … a truly piss weak excuse that the paper should’ve called out.
But no, the paper that is all for us pulled out a spectacular non-story, having a go at a new payment structure for private swimming lessons at Tobruk Pool, missing the irony of a paper that has regularly raised ts cover price way, way ahead of CPI criticising a private business for a relatively reasonable increase. But the Bulletin knew what a silly story this was so they decided to ginger it up with their go-to fall back … a sick kid whose mum will now have to pay an extra $300 a year for junior to have his lessons.
The whole thing was utter tripe in terms of no general interest to the reading public , or anybody really, and a weird cringeworthy attempt at emotional outrage. The mum must be grateful that the council didn’t introduce meters to the Strand, otherwise she’d be up for 300 bucks lickety split if junior’s lessons went overtime.
Adam Baillie Replies – The Radical Bay Road Is A Goer
Last week, we reported on confusion over the funding money -said to be about 6m smackeroonies to restore the road to Radical Bay on Maggie. A mix-up in email addresses was eventually sorted out and the member for Townsville sent this explanation.
‘Updated assessments’ are the political speak for ‘how long is a piece of copperstring’ or ‘in our own sweet time’, so we’ll be watching, Adam, to see if you’re more a man of your word than your predecessor.
Would A Legal Moat Around Katter’s Castle Law Work? Probably Not.
There’s a lot of noise about this vague suggestion that has one very specific but often unsaid provision for its advocates … ability to defend your home, family and property with a gun. The soft language framing of the current push for enhanced definitions of defence hides the simple purpose of being allowed to arm yourself.
But this isn’t just a simple and brief wording change, much of the current legislation in Queensland and most other states would need to be changed to relax the strict laws regarding weapons ownership. Because the whole idea behind Castle Law would be virtually null and void unless vital, and undesirable changes were made. Apart from strict storage rules that would remove any real usefulness in a break-in because of the time involved to access and assemble then load any weapon – it would be an insane law to allow household weapons to be loaded ‘just in case’ – the most dangerous change would be that simply being a home owner would become a ‘genuine reason’ – as is now required – to own long or short arms. Crims often own homes, too, and not all crims are joy-riding kids.
These and other needed legislative changes make the whole idea both dangerous and pointless but it would change not only gun ownership rules, but give criminals – real criminals or just kids – incentive to raid households. for items to sell in the black market. Or use for serious crimes. And if that’s what they’re coming for, they will come both prepared and determined, it won’t be a random scouting or opportunistic episode. This would in effect be a ready source of illegal arms to be used in future property invasions. Carrying those weapons would also become commonplace in stolen vehicles, increasing the danger tenfold to those involved in such episodes. So the whole idea is likely to be counter-productive. But the definition of reasonable force to defend yourself house car or family should be dropped – you should be able to use any means available to protect yourself.
But Here’s A Daydream Which Ever Remain Thus
Guns won’t work, and would tie up a lot of your time that shouldn’t be.
But there are other legal changes that would stop the kiddy scourge virtually overnight, but it will never happen in this modern world where all sensibilities likely to be damaged somehow belong only to the perpetrator.
This is the answer.
Yes, could the answer be corporal punishment. The threat of a spell in Cleveland carries no fear for our particular brand of offender, a few month can be handled by most of these snots and emerging leaders. But here’s one way to both stop the detention centre overcrowding and stop the crime tsunami – corporal punishment.
Simple idea really. At a certain stage of offending – and it needn’t be too high of a bar – repeat offenders of any age of certain proscribed types of crime, do not get lengthy and expensive spells behind bars, they get a taste of what could be called the Malaysian Method … a caning. The ‘Pie is not suggesting we adopt the almost murderous and deeply evil sentences carried out north of here, nor should it be a caning. It should be a paddling, perhaps with an implement similar to a cricket bat.
If there are crime victims out there think this is frivolous, they are urged to experiment a bit with their own bat. No doubt the missus would be delighted to help you understand the ticklish outcome of a lusty full-swing belt on the bum with a Bradman deluxe Big Sixer.
But for a serious suggestion of feasibility, the sentence could be three strokes on the bare buttocks for an initial sentence, six for the second, and maybe nine for a third time. The offender spends a few days in custody both before and after, with all the attendant dread that the prospect offers before and the discomfort after while health concerns are attended to should they arise, But that’s it, no one is quartered, watered and fed for pointless months on end. No more three hots and a cot. No doubt there will be copious tears even from the ‘toughies’ – you know, the same sort of tears that their often traumatised victims shed after their visit.
Offer these little arsesoles a very real punishment (aptly, on their arsesoles) with all the attendant indignity which removes all the finger gesturing boastful ‘I da man’ posed fuckwittery, and then we’ll see how swaggering and brave they are after just one sentence. The ‘Pie will guarantee that there will be a sudden decrease in repeat offending, and a lighter burden on the law abiding taxpayer.
So there you have it, a very Aussie solution, no to guns, yes to cricket bats. But sadly, there will also be a very Aussie political reaction to such a suggestion, no guts and no spine, in panic of what someone in a distant country may think of how we run our affairs in this nation.
And apologies to those who have sprayed their chai latte with a twist upon reading these dastardly words.
An Oversight From Last week
In the introduction to last week’s Nest, The ‘Pie promised a personal anecdote about Eileen ‘Red” Bond, who had died earlier this month. The lead story was more complicated than expected, so the Red yarn was overlooked. A reader reminded The ‘Pie of is laxness, so here is a small memory of one of the more vibrant women I’ve met.
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Submitted on 2025/07/07 at 10:31 pm | In reply to Headmistress.
Did The ‘Pie promise that? Well, guess he did, so …
(“Grandpa Magpie, did you ever meet that lady they called Red?” “Surely did, sonny, surely did.”. The Magpie takes a reflective draw on his corncob pipe, gives his rockin’ chair on the porch a gentle nudge or two, and sighs. “Let me tell you about my night with Red. It starts back in ‘87/88 when things were different then … ’) The Magpie was working for Mojo Corporate and was the PR account executive for Bond Brewing. He was often tasked with organising Bond-related event. His best effort was the re-naming of the Bathurst Race to the Tooheys 1000, and it was he who branded the Saturday qualifying runs as Toohey’s Top Gun. He hired a DC-3 to reflect more accurately Tom Cruise’s involvement in aviation and flew four or five of the top drivers and a gaggle of media up to the re-naming ceremony. The ‘Pie sat next to the late Peter Brock, who spent the entire flight explaining how his miraculous crystals benefited engines. Which made The ‘Pie reflect how anyone can get a license but was happy that Brockie wasn’t flying the plane. Another campaign was the opening of an expensively renovated Bond pub The Sands at Narrabeen on Sydney’s North Shore – come stick your head in the Sands’ read the devastatingly clever invitation featuring, for some reason, an ostrich – this dear reader, is the first and last time The ‘Pie will revisit this piece of toe curling gaucherie. The cream of Sydney’s Nescafe Society was invited, but Bondy himself was not available, so his wife Eileen, known affectionally by the public as Red, came in his stead. While The’ Pie’s task was more shepherding, directing and introducing, he was flattered to find that Red took a bit of a shine to him … no, no, not like that, but she kept seeking me out for a chat, and also, to The ‘Pie’s embarrassment, a couple of dances (imagine Fred Asatire in ankle chains). She was bubbly, chatty, clever and anything but empty headed, as were so many of the trophy wives of other local Daddy Warbucks. In short, The ‘Pie and everyone else found her a delight who never once said a justifiable ‘ouch’, put on no airs and graces, and did a genuine line is self-deprecation. She was as she always had been, a Freo girl who found her guy early and stuck with him, even after they divorced some years later, and through his subsequent troubles. ’ The Red I remember, not just from that night but other numerous events at which I saw her, was the sort of instantly likeable ‘life of the party’ personality that did Australia proud on the global stage. As a cousin said of her last week” “As she married and moved through life and met royalty and popes and American presidents, she never changed — she was always Eileen Hughes from Fremantle … she never took her feet off the ground.” Her feet were certainly on the ground that night in Narrabeen because they were mostly under The ‘Pie’s own, back when the old bird danced the night away with Red Bond |
From The Whimsey Mine:
One Nation Blames Zoo Attack On Government Immigration Policy.
Demands that all the migrant residents of The Western Plains Zoo be transferred to Nauru.
“This lion is typical of these types that come to our shores, it doesn’t accept the Australian way of life or our laws’ said a One Notion spokeswoman. ‘You can’t even trust them in detention, they remain terrorists at heart always. We demand that Albanese come to his senses and deport these creatures off shore.’
No one from the Federal Government could be reached for comment due to photo commitments, but a representative of the Nauru Government said there could certainly be interest in accepting these violent illegals.
‘Because we have limited space or ability to raise out own red meat, this proposal offers some interesting possibilities,’ he said, adding that the average Nauruan was jack of seafood. ’It’s bloody fish and oysters, breakfast, lunch and dinner, we’ve had it up to here with the bony bastards.’
The Greens described the idea a ‘ predictable over reaction and an arm-jerk response’ and demanded that all the zoo’s inhabitants be released into the community. Sarah Hanson-Young said that no one gets reformed in detention and if allowed to mix with the community, they will learn to respect our laws and the benefits of the Australian way of life.
‘Inside such places, the only thing they learn is the law of the jungle,’ she said.
Amerika
The Magpie, who has often confessed his limited knowledge of working economics, really needs someone to explain to him how America’s stable genius expects his tariff bullying to work. Or, considering further truth of the TACO tag (Trump Always Chickens Out) with his prevarication about deadlines for his ultimatums, has he suddenly got an inkling of the complete fucktangle he has created for himself?
A group of economists have spelt it out for the developmentally delayed President.
“The top tariff on men’s and women’s clothing will exceed 77 per cent,” they write. “Tariffs on purses could be as high as 90 per cent, and tariffs on baked goods could reach 85 per cent. Tariffs on beer will be as high as 79 per cent.”
The TPC’s analysis adds that consumers likely won’t feel the impact of the tariffs right away, since retailers have been stocking up on goods as a way to get ahead of the tariffs.
However, this strategy can only work for so long, since retailers will eventually have to restock their wares and will then be forced to pass some of costs from the tariff onto their customers.
“As a likely result, consumer prices will rise, employment and incomes in downstream industries will fall and profits will shrink,” the Tax Policy Center warns.
“The value of retirement plans that hold stocks in these industries will also likely drop… Eventually… it is very likely that these historically high tariffs will damage the economy.”
But Dimwit Donny clings to his delusion of tariff threats giving him a blunt weapon to bully other nations is now nakedly apparent. He has even used swingeing tariff increases in an attempt to influence the legal system in Brazil.
But it seems he just becoming aware that his tits are caught in a wringer of his own manufacture, as the unalterable truth slowly dawn on Don’s dimness – i.e. any tariffs on goods are paid for by US importers and therefore passed onto the American public? Trump has created his own Age of Schadenfreude. Indeed, for the whole world of economics, the pain may be worth the pleasure.
But Trump has other matters on his mind just now … like magically disappearing Epstein lists of Lolita Airlines passengers and guests.
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Thank God It Wasn’t A Rooster-Growing Town (work on it, work on it)
And Finally … A Song For Townsville
Departing radio jock Shaun O’Neill from 106.3 (whatever that is) …. has put his memories of his recent time in Townsville to music . Laugh and cry at the cleverness.
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That’s it for now, but you are all threatened with more next week, inshallah. Donation button is below.
Great blog for the week Pie!
I have just one question about your opening topic, the Draft Delegations Policy:
So let me get this straight—the Draft Delegations Policy – proposes shifting major powers from elected councillors to the CEO, and yet no external legal review was sought before putting it to Council?
That’s like writing your own performance review, signing it off, and then promoting yourself. Bold move… but maybe a little too bold when public accountability is on the line.
Will Brazier Park in PALLARENDA be sold off by stealth like the park land in Primrose Street
Isn’t that a flood plan?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-13/taipan-helicopter-fly-again-talisman-sabre-nz/105522512
This might answer the helicopter question asked in last week’s comments.
As I said before – fire the CEO, purge the upper management. The fine detail in the proposal for a management coup of the council would have been seen by MANY managers and yet strangely not one (?) mentioned this (?).
The parking fine increases would have been voted in by the councillors and not a word against it was offered by them.
The housing crisis in Australia is caused by massive and out of control immigration designed to destroy the country and leverage power out of the hands of its inhabitants and into the hands of the corporations. Divide everyone in the country by race and ideology/ religion and pour money, power and authority into those divided sub groups and you’ve got a perfect storm ; not forgetting the new laws around public discourse and the internet ID and and you’ve got the perfect facist state. Once the state has been overthrown corporations get to pillage the natural resources of the state with little push back; everyone can wave their little flag but be effectively homeless , sick and penniless and not give a damn.
What we are experiencing in Australia is a full scale facist attack on what would we consider the Australian way of life: mouthing off against things we dont like; having nice things; fixing cars in our yards; visiting interesting places; not being under full CCTV and electronic surveillance; not suffering weaponisation of the system to make everyone’s life miserable to suit the narrow agenda and beliefs of a minority of people.
The whole purpose of making thousands of people homeless, taxing them to death, impoverishing the majority whilst making the few rich is a very old trick; it’s a civilisation ending trick by “accelerationism” to overthrow the state for the benefit of the corporations. At the very least STOP voting “labor” it has ceased serving anyone except itself.
Want to see how bad it gets ? Look at everything happening in Victoria.
You’ve been warned.
Well, it seems Crikey agrees with you on one point. And so does The Magpie.
Victoria’s draconian new anti-protest laws will have a chilling effect on free speech — and won’t keep anyone safe
Far-reaching anti-protest measures and giving police more repressive powers only serve to increase the risk of escalating violence.
In response to the weekend’s attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced she will forge ahead with new anti-protest measures and more police powers.
In doing so, she is following what has become the new normal for state governments across the country: using acts of racism and violence as a pretext to clamp down on unrelated democratic rights.
That last line hints at Chris Minns’ dodgy behaviour in NSW over the ‘explosives in the caravan’ affair. He used the incident to push for new anti-semitic laws before all the details were known … details like it was a criminal hoax aimed at extortion, and nothing to do with Jews or Nazis. Now the question is when did he know this was the case? All along? And just used it as a handy vehicle for what Crikey describes?
Reminds me of the Sir Joh era, when the assembly of people in a public place was met with the strong arm of the law. I enjoyed the long walk from the Uni Qld to Roma Street but not the treatment from the Boys in Blue, who left their service numbers at home. There would be at least six reasons I would have been on Special Branch files. We are told those files were destroyed years ago.
Then WA took up the baton. I and two mates needed to have a discussion in Hay Street, Perth – we were organising a Folk Festival in the State – and felt it circumspect to pile into a telephone box (then a Commonwealth place) to have our meeting at arms length from State Law. Well, those opportunities were put to an end with the later passage of Commonwealth Places laws across all States, which are still in place. The laws allowed State police to enforce State laws in Commonwealth places.
The rotters.
A new Guy imposter or has Guy gone boots n all? Sounds like one of three names’ mates using Guy’s name.
Guy sounds like a new age cooker
Take your pills Guy.
An excellent economist is Justin Wolfers, an Australian professor at the University of Michigan and a regular guest on various CNN programs. He is very good at telling it like it is in the “you can take the boy out of Australia, but not Australia out of the boy” way.
Yeah, he’s good, I think he lays on the ockerisms a bit thick as part of his screen persona but he does have a knack for communication.
“And Finally … A Song For Townsville.” looks like he’s taken it with him mate!! Doesn’t open.
Seems to be something to do with the FB link. Apologies, not sure that anything can be done.
Try this link direct: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19mMKcTLnt/?mibextid=wwXIfr
That’s the one inserted into the blog, and also the initial link from another commenter earlier.
Must be something about platforms blocking each other. Either that, or the frappel hose has come loose from the glammis, shorting out the doohickey cable. Or sumfin.
Precisely!
I think it’s a liveware problem…. certainly not software or hardware, anyway.
Discovered the problem but can’t fix … it’s a loose nut in front of the keyboard.
Search for the Townsville sirens
Up will come something about a restraunt, ignore that.
Select videos. On my screen it was top of the page.
Not Facebook. Sorry, could not get a link.
Worth the hassle.
Yes, no hassle and a bloody good piece of performing art.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
I read it – no problem. And I don’t normally do Facebook.
The ‘Pie is being unduly harsh on the Astonisher regarding the proposed delegation of powers put to TCC. How can they be expected to plough through this tome, much less understand it, without the release of a simple two page press release?
Two pages!?! Eeeekk.
Thanks, another interesting note from the nest.
There must be so much paddling below the surface of the Walker St pond.
Thanks for reading the delegations document, good job and obviously more than the paid journalists have managed.
I thought it curious the regular references toward the CEO by Cr Robinson and others as well foodtruck’s comments, when the real issue is that as elected councillors they should be protecting their oversight of council decisions. Not to do so makes them yet another gravy train board, asleep at the wheel.
On your penchant for names linked to professions – Mr Sewell clearly needs to go specsavers.
We must be pronouncing is differently. I was saying Sewell like Sewer
It seems the 547 page Delegation to CEO document is just over half as long as the 940 page Big Bullshit Bill recently passed in the US. And like the BBB contains hidden surprises. Also like the BBB it is focused on consolidating the powers of one man.
What happened to good governance, transparency and accountability?
I hope the copper who shot the machete wielding lout in the shopping centre gets the same accolades that the lady copper received in similar circumstances a few months ago. Whilst it is not exactly an act of heroism it must have shown some dedication to duty and purpose. He is possibly not sleeping well. Any thoughts?
Coppers in that situation are trained to have the safety of others as first priority and their own second. And it’s a good thing if he’s losing a bit of sleep …. someone not bothered by the human aspect of bumping someone off is not the sort of person who should wear a uniform and have a weapon.
Modern police officers by and large should be admired and trusted. Even when they ping us for everyday matters, it is rarely otherwise than US breaking OUR laws.
Spot on ‘Pie. I just don’t like the thought of a bloke with a shitty job to do being put through the wringer for doing it.
Exactly … but on the obverse of that coin, The ‘Pie for is heartily fed up with police hierarchy and particularly police union people clucking on about coppers being traumatised, and that they have the right to leave home in the morning expecting to come home at night, yakkety yakety etc.
Don’t tell us that anyone who becomes a copper does so without the welcome expectation of excitement, some action, drama and having authority. They all know what they signed up for, most of us appreciate that, but Christ, can we do without these self serving hanky wringers who ram home the unpleasant side of the job that we all know – a policeman’s lot is not a happy one.
Oh Mr Magpie, you brute – “ three strokes on the bare buttocks for an initial sentence”. Where do I sign up!!
Are you sure it’s not the handle you’re more interested in? Your comment is clearly innuendo.
END OF THREAD.
Pie, you speak Italian.
Merda, only effluently.
First time contributor here, Pie, motivated to comment on the Delegation to CEO document.
When I read your column last week it seemed reasonable that Councillors should take their time to look over the document. Annexure A hidden on page 316 changes all that. This whole document needs to be referred to the CCC.
As you correctly point out, David Sewell has signed off on a scheme that would give Council public officers executive control over the handling of every DA received. AND prevent individual Councillors from making representations on behalf of their constituents. That is, tell them how they get to do their job. Ordinarily, the CEO could investigate this bizarre proposal internally. The problem for Joe McCabe as CEO is that the chief legal officer has implicated him as the primary agent in this dupliticious, probably highly illegal hijink. Joe McCabe can’t investigate himself.
It would seem under local government governance the referral to the CCC can be made by any Councillor, although transparency suggests the Acting Mayor should be the first in line.
I wonder if any of the Councillors are experiencing a form of buyer’s remorse in backing Joe McCabe’s appointment?
T’Pie doesn’t agree with your rush to judgement.
Now, it’s a matter for you as to how you read it, but at the council meeting when Clr Robinson revealed all this, it was McCabe that appeared the most eager for it to go to a workshop for further councillor discussion. Whether this was to put a quick end to Robinson’s insights or if McCabe just hadn’t taken the time to look closely at the 500+ page document, and had trusted Sewell to honest in the matter. Which he was not, and if he had any decency, he should accept that he’s been rumbled and resign, it is simply disgraceful behaviour at best, you decide what it is at worst.
Or one could take the dimmer view that McCabe’s haste to a call for a workshop was alarm and panic that the whole idea was about to be exposed, and he will argue against the damning parts of the list in workshops to distance himself from any past ‘misjudgement’.
And further evidence from a different source has come into the Nest that also answers the old investigative question cui bono ‘Who benefits?’ The mayor, that’s who, or in this case, the acting mayor who deeply believes she will be the mayor when an election is held. The mayoral office is the only one with any influence over the CEO in a situation like the one suggested, and even that has its limitations.
Has the government had a too-clever-by-half hand in this?
And, of course, as we always must, we sit and wonder just how long before the Bulletin – you know, that paper that is all for us – has the balls or the skill to get involved what could very well become a state if not a national story.
I wish the Agenda for last weeks TCC meeting was still available online because it contained an introduction and what you might call explanatory notes to this ‘delegation of powers’ plan. Does anyone have a means of retrieving it?
Your wish is etc etc
https://townsville.resolve.red/web/UserControls/pdf/web/DocPDFWrapper.aspx?ar=4838&token=06bf3e9d-5769-490c-b635-a6b63a7b5be6
Note the bit where it says it is legally all tickety boo.
I’m pretty fucking sure it isn’t, and if that turns out to be the case, Sewell MUST resign. Or be sacked … but getting the boot from this council is hard to happen .. even lucrative in one case of a different crook.
There is an underlying principle that is being overlooked perhaps. As I understand, the legal ‘person’ making a delegation still retains the power (or is this only in the Commonwealth’s system). So it would seem that the Council in delegating the world to the CEO will retain any powers delegated.
Any decision made by a delegate is seen a decision of the delegating body.
Now, if it is arranged that the CEO exercises a delegated power and the decision falls foul of a review process, the review decision might be one for the delegating body to make. Again, this is the Commonwealth way.
Delegation can be a murky business.
Any chance you were or are a public servant? Or a lawyer? Or a bot?
My computer is called Dorfus. I bought it at an auction. It comes up with some whacky stuff sometimes.
Seems a marriage made in cyber heaven.
I don’t suppose you have some way other than PayPal to accept donations?
Since Trump’s rise, I have been giving up using USA owned multinational organisations, such as PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, which makes it hard to send you money (unless I slip a few quid in an envelope and physically mail it to an address you nominate).
Are you using any of the Reserve Bank’s New Payments Platform https://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/new-payments-platform/
which I gather includes stuff like Osko, BPay, and PayID.
https://www.auspayplus.com.au/solutions/payid
‘fraid not, Eric. But it’s the thought that counts, and The ‘Pie appreciates that.
The legal department overstepping the boundaries again, often with the advice of King & Co, a LGAQ favourite. Last month the legal eagles moved the WHS policy to include councillors, so the CEO has that power, 5 months ago the corporate stamp was moved away from the mayor to the CEO, and now the delegations moving to the CEO, in that lies the problem, bureaucracy wins out, every time. And all because a legal eagle can interpret the act differently due to its vagueness.
The requested delegations of power have not been moved at this time … and councillors had better start sweating ba; bearing if they let this happen. The role of the LGAQ in all this would be most interesting.
The CEO has always had the WHS responsibility on any Council site or worksite, which includes employees, councillors including the Mayor and visitors. That has not changed and a reason the CEO is on the big bucks. The Mayor has never had that responsibility.
You mean he’s always had the power to use WHS provisions to remove a dingbat mayor subject to dangerous fits which may injure work colleagues from the council premises, without fear of spiteful retribution? And how’s that working out? f
In the eyes of TwoNames that is why he was removed, but TwoNames had made threats against other councillors and also has a history of several DV charges with several different former partners.
Lets not forget that after he was elected, he brought his family into the council building for a private tour after hours, and security caught them rifling though desks looking for the corruption he talks often about. He was escorted off site then too.
‘Let’s not forget… what?’ That is the first we’ve heard of this , and frankly, that comment really needs some supporting evidence. Until then, that is childish bullshit.
I’m still not fully convinced that McCabe was trying to pull the wool over the Councillors eyes regarding the ‘document’ that was put before the Councillors. He has a pretty good working relationship with them and I would be surprised that he was willing to just piss that relationship away in one act of power grab. Hopefully there is more to the story and we don’t have the full story. Then again, power games and fuckwittery is nothing new to Townsville council so nothing would surprise me.
The ‘Pie agrees with that view.
On the NSW and Vic over reaching anti protest laws , there is the recent NSW case of Kvelde that might get in the way. https://jade.io/article/1057949 It was a pre-emptive attack on such laws where there were already laws in place to cover that conduct.
The tests the proportionality cases also require compelling justification and necessity. And the court can inform itself without reference to the rules of evidence like in the previous Unions NSW v NSW (1) and (2) cases linked in the above case. It’s called constitutional facts.
It can be used against bullshit anti protest bail conditions too. Like the ones they used to ban activists from the entire Bowen area. Where the conditions should only have been not to break the law whilst on bail. Whether or not a person is on bail, constitutionally, peaceful protest is not an offence
They have been doing kneejerk shit for ages and the example is diluting murder or manslaughter charges with dangerous driving causing death. If you drive at a copper you get attempted murder. If you intentionally drive at an indigenous kid and kill him like the Wyles case , you get dangers driving and you are out in 15 months.
It should go back to murder and manslaughter.
Dear Pie,
I see this group convenes every few years. Have previous meetings achieved anything? Sorry, I should read the minutes myself.
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/about-council/news-and-publications/media-releases/2025/july/inclusive-communities-advisory-committee-eois-open-now
Hardly a trustworthy, independent voice to reflect ratepayers and residents concern. Sounds like a Labor-inspired second tier council creating some sort of illusory buddyship. But hey, if you’ve got the time …
On the other hand, looking at the minutes over years of previous meetings, this advisory panel might be the ONLY residents forum in Townsville whose activities are fully recorded for public dissemination – unlike the local ‘residents and ratepayers’ groups, such as they are. Looks like an ideal forum to take the Radical Bay matter which is otherwise being lobbied by who knows who behind closed doors in Brisbane.
The ‘Pie has long pointed out the shame that Peter Newey hi-jacked the name Townsville Residents and Ratepayers Association and made a tin-foil mockery of it. Another suitable name should be registered and properly monitored, amalgamating all the good aspects of other sites like Everything Townsville .. and maybe even The Magpie … on a good day.
Didn’t the (suspended) Mayor propose that each councillor hold a formal/informal meet and greet with residents in their divisions occasionally to receive feedback? To be honest, it would be far better if communities establish their own forums controlled by residents rather than by council. The fact that it doesn’t happen at all or that someone “hijacks” an established association whose activities are hardly ‘public’, says more about civic apathy than inactive council. I wonder how the Cr Dirou committee is chosen from the list of nominees? Or do they all get a guernsey because there are so few who nominate?
Ask her.
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Bob,
The push for the Radical Bay Road to be repaired and opened to the public is coming from locals, not from Brisbane as you claim.
The emergency services personell on the island want the road repaired so their vehicles can access Arthur, Florence and Radical Bays.
Residents want the road opened, as do tourism operaters.
Do you, Metermaid Greaney and Major Matt believe our emergency service members here on the island should have to walk into these bays?
All of this stirring up of world wide tariffs by the ‘Loose Cannon Trump’ is a simple magicians trick of distraction. While claiming to MAGA where in fact he’s making it tougher for USA folks, he’s quietly funnelling billions to his own family coffers.
That’s his real aim !
Choosing Vance as his second in command helping to stir the tariff plot, is the prick that Trump needs to keep up the distraction act going (along with his own unpredictable actions)
The first question the USA voters should have asked is why would a loud mouth billionaire want to become president. Simple answer, he wanted total power to ripoff billions from the system !
He’s using the Putin playbook but the difference with the USA folks is that this whole Trump fiasco could very well end up in another civil war that once before almost ripped the heart out of the nation.
Here’s some light reading ahead of this week’s council meeting. You look up the whole agenda on the usual website.
https://townsville.resolve.red/web/UserControls/pdf/web/DocPDFWrapper.aspx?ad=8659&token=3a60782d-3f88-4e37-97ea-a72d3c4f4934
I’m surprised that this LNP decision has hit the fan yet or maybe certain groups are preferring to lie low because of the lack of progress etc on these two cultural centres which could be seen as poor management and lack of enthusiasm for the projects
https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/queensland-cuts-cord-on-languishing-300-million-plan-for-indigenous-arts-centres-5886145
Seems our less that accomplished Trade Minister, Don Farrell is not accompanying the PM on a trade mission with the PM in China!
He made a complete ass of himself last time in China and on notable other failed “missions” not having improved our international trade income one iota.
His deputy had to come to the rescue after the buffoon screwed up big time with both EU and USA delegations in the recent past
Maybe his rosy complexion isn’t shared by his “stamina”.
You are a yank then?
How the hell do you come to that erroneous conclusion?
My paternal line comes (in chains) from the 2nd Fleet (Irish/Viking).
My Maternal all the way back to the Norman invasion of England.
Norman Gunston?
Being an ASS
Lawd Hammercy! Heavy industry have had a rate increase! All the businesses will fail! We’re all aghast! The sky is falling!
Oh wait. It was a land valuation increase.
Let’s not tell the whole story Mr Stack and Mr Kopittke.
“From 2022 to October 2024 the total value of commercial property in Townsville increased by 22.9 per cent.
Meantime the total value of industrial property in Townsville has increased by 42.4 per cent.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-14/townsville-city-council-commercial-rate-increase/105521676?
The whole purpose of Government in Australia is to
1 always make sure there is unemployment
ideally hovering around 5.5 % to control inflation. A tight Labor market creates a inflationary situation. The mechanism to control inflation is principally interest rates and taxes.
Collateral damage from interest rate rises ( and taxes) is the suicide rate as people’s livelihoods disappear – i noticed this many years ago looking through ABS data at UNSW. I noticed that suicides seemed to rise and fall and stretching a long bow i realised that these must be related to economic activity ( though you could well argue sunspot activity or anything else).
As economic activity rises and falls thanks to interest rates and taxes so does suicide/ crime/ other social ills. If you are part of the priestly caste of government worker you are more protected from government action upon the populace.
The ‘Pie has always noted how often – not always but the majority of the time – bad news is good news on the stock market.
You must be happy that we have low unemployment, low inflation and lowering interest rates, Guy.
Oh, who am I kidding? Nothing could make Guy happy.
Except not having his ramblings deleted by The ‘Pie.
2: a government must always be in serious debt.
The purpose of debt is to justify heavy taxation on the population and also to funnel money to the banking corporations. The politicians that take the debt often find themselves very well paid work outside of politics once they are exposed. For example, Scott Morrison – scourge of the liberal party signed the AUKUS agreement for half a trillion in weapons ( not just submarines innit ?). After being exposed as a conman he now works in the weapons industry. Of course such rampant fraud isn’t limited to the liberal party.
The more debt a politician signs into being the higher the reward to them/ friends/ family , meanwhile the state is overthrown.
The great thing about massive debt is that it stifles any innovation. As Australia has accrued more debt more business have transferred themselves out of Australia or simply gone out of business/ bought out. The only real business left in Australia are ones literally tied to the dirt – agriculture, house building, mining and the banks lending money to those three last industries.
Can’t see much sign of businesses leaving Australia as we accumulate debt, Guy.
https://imgur.com/a/axviu4Y
That was too easy flying fox
Oceania Glass.
It was Australia’s last remaining architectural flat glass manufacturer, producing glass for homes and buildings. The company went into voluntary administration in February 2025 and subsequently ceased manufacturing operations in Dandenong, Victoria, by the end of that month, leading to significant job losses.
The closure was attributed to various factors, including soaring gas costs, increased competition from cheaper imports (particularly from Asia), and the need for a costly plant upgrade that the company’s private equity owner was unwilling to fund. Its collapse has raised concerns about Australia’s sovereign capability in manufacturing and the stability of the local construction industry.
So the collapse was completely unrelated to any issues you’ve ever raised?
Still, refer once again to the chart and subtract one (1) business then keep going until it starts curving down.
Commonwealth Bank sends jobs to India as it cuts hundreds of workers in Australia – despite record profits | Daily Mail Online https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14917031/Commonwealth-Bank-sends-jobs-India-cuts-hundreds-workers-Australia-despite-record-profits.html
Give it a rest Guy. This is not a uni lecture hall or a rostrum for political theory. You are on the wrong blog for that econo/political claptrap. It’s getting beyond boring, to the stage of being insulting and your are no longer welcome to be so patronisingly disrespectful to Nest readers. Future posts will be judged on these merits. The one you just posted has been deleted.
No probs
Ive said as much as I want here
Please return to your normal viewing
You’re still welcome on more prosaic matters like the TCC.
Yeah, well, maybe. I don’t think you like me. But that’s ok, we are all different varieties of fruit.
Don’t know you beyond what you write, we’ve never met. What’s to dislike, except some of your sillier ideas.
That’s not a business leaving Australia, so you’re still at 1.
Aha, so Mike Douglas pops his head up for an ABC interview. I wondered where he went.
At last the Reserve Bank has seen reason to try to do something about the scourge of credit card surcharges! Those really annoy me. Wonder how much revenue the council will have to forego if they can no longer charge an extra half a percent on every credit card transaction?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-15/rba-credit-debit-merchant-surcharge-payment-cost-review/105530340
Back in the 89s and 90s, The ‘Pie well remembers being told by the terminal providers that such surcharges were not allowed, and Action Would Be Taken on complaints. This was onbiously to encourage people to use their cards more, which in Australia, had only been around for a decade or two at that time.
But those days have passed, and given we a closer to a cashless society than ever, it now amounts to a private tax imposed by individual businesses. The real and fair solution lies with the provider i.e the banks and credit card companies, to make a suitable adjustment their end if they really want to help their customer. Which they don’t, they couldn’t give a rats arse – welcome to the new morality.
This was sent into The Nest by a Special Correspondent. If you check the May figures (first 2 screen shots) against the June figures, it seems, as they say, miracles yet remain to cease. Magical.
Something to ponder on is the Treasury Report to be tabled at tomorrow’s TCC meeting.
All of a sudden in the final month of the year council has taken on an extra $100m in debt, not from the Working Capital facility, but a loan. It’s been added to the Cash Reserves for now. Making it look like the Council is in a very much improved cash position (even though the reporting period is for prior to the July rates notices being issued.
Commentary says it is within Budget forecast, which it may well be. In all likelihood, it includes the $90m for Lansdown for the 25/26 FY.
BUT the fact that they are reporting it as part of the cash reserve is thoroughly misleading.
And whether it is within Budget for 24/25 FY is questionable, as when the budget was set for 24/25 they had no idea what the requirements for 25/26FY would be. As 24/25 was the year of planning and design, no one would have had a firm idea on what the 25/26FY forecast was yet to be.
Reckon there is some end of year tomfoolery afoot to make everyone look good as they close out the books on the last FY. Not a good time to be playing games like this, as it reeks. to the heights.
And makes it very hard to figure out this early, whether or not the surplus being foreshadowed in the CEO’s Quarterly Performance report is believable, when it will still be months until we have the fully audited EOY report.
The financial reports are works of fiction
Looks like some creative accounting and council skullduggery. Let’s see if the councillors sniff out a financial fiddle or if they get the wool pulled over their eyes as usual. There isn’t a brain cell between the lot of them.
Cuppa – Andrew Robinson seems to be pretty switched on. He was the one that spotted the unlimited power provision buried in the 500(ish) page document that was presented as a fait accompli.
Merry Andrew
He may not have the tongue-twisting magic of Danny Kaye’s Merry Andrew, but Clr Robinson apparently has a touch of mischief about him.
After the public holiday for next year’s show had been waved through, Clr Robinson got an amused side-eye from Clr Batkovic when he innocently asked. ‘I am just wondering what the Director of Infrastructure and Operations thinks about this and what he has to say on the matter?’
This was a droll reference to the spray Matt Richardson copped in the Townsville Show magazine (program, was it? over funding cuts affecting the annual show.
But while Richardson may be many things, he is not the sort of a mug likely to walk into that minefield. He played it with a stony-faced straight bat, managing to get in his own little jab as well, replying, ’Well, I always enjoy a day off during the week, and I work hard to support council and the show is a great community event but as we all know, rates is (sic) not free. Thank you.’
Not sure about the relevance of the reference to rates (unless The ‘Pie is mishearing) but one imagines, unlike all the quietly smirking councillors, Show boss Chris Condon was not amused.
Magpie, I’m surprised you missed the ‘iconic’ opportunity. Out of curiosity it would be interesting to know what the actual cost to the Show Society was for waste disposal as compared to the gate takings. Fair enough that Condon tries it on the Council to get a freebie but perfectly OK for Richardson to knock him back. Those two probably go way back. Each would see the other coming miles off.
The latest balance sheet includes the $100M loan, and the $29M state funds for the north shore intersection from the state government. It’s very misleading, despite Phillips telling us at a meet and greet that they’d paused a few projects before the EFY. Misleading is an understatement.
It’s hard to draw any conclusions when no one seems to know what the financial reports actually mean. For example, you suggest the budget papers might include $90m for Lansdown for the 25/26 FY. Do you have any idea what that $90m might be for or where it will come from? Would your ‘Special Correspondent” like to comment on the following, including how the ‘grant’ money from Canberra actually makes it to the project in Townsville and whether this particular $34m is somehow buried in gobbledegook in the budget not as a secret but as a necessary accounting procedure that we mortals simply do not understand?
Federal Financial Relations Schedule – November 2023
Townsville City Deal: Lansdown Eco-industrial Precinct
“The Commonwealth will provide an estimated total financial contribution to Queensland of $34.0 million to support the completion of raw water pipe supply and installation (enabling infrastructure) for Lansdown”.
Just saw twonames at Willows, he parked beside me in a brand new ute, with the plates MYR047. I’m no Sherlock, so I asked the missus, she said it stands for 47th mayor of Townsville. FFS
TwoNames obviously isn’t aware of the sometimes unwelcome attention that vanity numbers plates attract.
Good. I look forward to tailgating him and flipping him the middle finger when I see him on the road.
Martyr AK47
Just like Felon47. Apt.
THKS 4 250k
A few choice number plates for Troy:
LIAR 69
GRIFTER
MUMMYS BOY
LOSER 01
A search of TMR indicates there is no vehicle with rego MYR047 or 047MYR. There is a 2112 Ford Ranger with plates 047MY8.
Blocked Townsvillian page explains why Regocheck may not yet be up to date. Question: which financial institution would lend him dough, given his appalling financial history and dubious job prospects? Unless, of course, some silly person went guarantor…
I don’t understand what blocked Townsvillian page has to do with TMR – Transport and Main Roads Dept
Sorry. I can’t help with your lack of understanding or perception. Perhapsif you try a little harder.
He means this was explored in that fb group. Rego check is now updated, that plate is registered to GWM dual cab
Very exciting time for Townsville with the Superpests spreading their noise and fumes. I hope none of the race cars get broken into by some of the Ville’s finest little indigenous grubs. Why stop at pensioner cars or Mum cars when you can ply your trade on the visiting race cars…..oh the humanity.
P.S Casual diners, visitors to the Strand, and general visitors attending this event – keep your wallet and purse tightly in your pants, lock your units, lock your cars, hold on to your mobile phones and don’t venture out after 6:00pm. Welcome to Townsville.
Piston – you are week behind the times. The super pests were in town last week. No reports of the vehicles being stolen, possibly because there is more than just putting the key in the ignition / pressing the button involved in starting one.
He’s not the only one, Mousie, the Bulletin really outdid the ‘yesterday’s news tomorrow’ reputation last Monday … that would the Monday after the Sunday when the SuperPests done and dusted, run and won and leaving town. but apparently no one told the paper, because they ran this story …
Now, you’d think not even a demented real estate agent could try to hype a property’s proximity to the V8 track as some sort of desirable attribute, but this goose did.
But the clincher for the Bulletin was this …
Clearly written the week before. Hope you all got your $3.50’s worth.
They really are getting addled down at the Astonisher.
They want to gingerly scold the council – rightfully so – over the disgraceful new $100 a pop parking fines, but may The ‘Pie suggest, Editor Poulson, it might be better to pick an anecdotal story that doesn’t feature a whinger who is wrong and the council is right.
If you read your own story, Jill, you will see that the woman herself tacitly admits she was in the wrong. And surely your reporter might have looked a little further when told by the woman that, yes,. she had parked half on the grass and half on the road … although ambiguous aboutthe location, it sounds a dangerous and selfish thing to do at anytime, and perhaps lucky she attract extra attention from the wallopers.
The council’s explanation is quite clear and reasonable, even if the new amount of the fines are not.
Show a bit of gumption and be upfront, by starting one of your famous ‘all for us’ campaigns about the unjustified hike in the fines, rather than entertain such one-sided Facebook material (which is probably where you got it in the first place.)
And note to COS and reporter Josh Mercer. You were there, she was there, and her vehicle was presumably there. Why the fuck not taker an explanatory snap to better explain the story, if you felt her case was worth bringing to us.
FFS, stop making yourself look like ninnies.
“Parking” meters are a criminal enterprise
OMG .. does it ever stop ., this metering out of rubbish upon rubbish ., park it up I say , park it up
Meting, surely. But having said that, metering Guy’s posts might make the blog financially sustainable if not profitable.
Rather be broke, thanks.
The Bulletin should really stop using Facebook community pages as their source of news. Grumpy-faced citizens with petty gripes or misfortunes of their own making seem to be their bread and butter lately. We all know parking fines have increased, no need to run a series on it. Also, how about they stop publishing Barry/Two names comments on every article? Every fucking article!
It’s a joy to see the Townsvillians blocked by Troy Thompson page and the Magpies Nest in sync with their telling of the Twonames Thompson narrative. It highlights that there are many non-supporters of the pathetic human being Thompson. Let’s keep up the pressure and keep picking apart his bullshit and deceit.
With the Bulletin making some questionable editorial decisions lately (‘more so than usual that is), it’s good to see the ‘Pies influence in spreading citizen journalism. There recent effort at a “positive” news story on TwiNames charitable largesse (otherwise known as how he is spending ratepayers money he didn’t earn), has been well countered by this Citizen Journalism. So good on both sites for holding the Fakebook Mayor to account.
Perhaps it might be misguided to make a humble brag, but a letter to the editor in today’s Astonisher from former councillor Mark Molochino has picked up on The Magpie’s concern about the issue delegation of powers to the TCC CEO. Yet strangely, the paper itself doesn’t see this as an issue worth looking into … well, not just at the moment. As the popular Melbourne saying of yore had it ‘the editor wouldn’t know if the #7 tram to Kew was up her, even it rang the bell’.
Looks like Guy will have to stick to cooker sites and wearing his tinfoil hat elsewhere.
I feel sorry for the Pie having to read Guy’s folly all the time. God help us if Guy is ever successful in the political arena…..cuckoo cuckoo
Yeah, we’ve already got one of them.
Its all well known theory and practice I’m afraid
It might surprise you but some of the stuff I’ve touched upon is taught at university , believe it or not.